FAYETTEVILLE -- Garland Allison will be the first to acknowledge he isn't the first Fayetteville receiver defenses typically focus in on. While opponents spend more time worried about another big target, it's Allison who has quietly stepped to the forefront as a top playmaker for the Bulldogs.
"Obviously I expected C.J. (O'Grady) to get covered a lot more this year because of the amazing season he had last year," Allison said. "He was just unbelievable last year, but I didn't expect to be our leading receiver so far."
Garland Allison
School: Fayetteville
Class: Junior
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6-3
Weight: 180
Notable: Leads team with 12 receptions along with 144 receiving yards and two touchdowns through first four games. … Had five receptions for 77 yards in last week’s 27-24 loss against Fort Smith Northside, including a 40-yard touchdown catch. … Caught two passes for 15 yards as a sophomore.
O'Grady rarely goes a play without attracting a double team or sometimes even a triple team from defenses. The results have been O'Grady being limited to nine receptions in Fayetteville's first four games. Allison, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound junior, has more than picked up the slack.
With 12 receptions for 144 yards, Allison leads the Purple'Dogs (3-1, 0-1 7A-West) in catches and is third to O'Grady and Bruce Armstrong in receiving yards. He also has two receiving touchdowns, including a 40-yard score against Fort Smith Northside last week when he totaled five receptions for 77 yards.
"Last year Garland got a few snaps in varsity snaps, then he had a great spring and grew up with his strength and his leadership into the summer," Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said. "Then in 7-on-7, Garland was our leading receiver. Even with C.J. O'Grady out there, Garland was our leading guy. And in the fall, he's done nothing but get better every day.
"Everybody knows about C.J. and they focus on him. But whether it's Garland, or Tyson (Morris) or Bruce or Barrett Banister, we needed some other kids to step up to help our young quarterbacks. And that's where Garland has really stepped up and played well."
Allison sees the benefits of having an O'Grady in the lineup, and he's making the most of it. Defenses are so primed on slowing down Fayetteville's big tight end, but often overlook Allison and other Bulldogs' receivers.
"That helps us see where the holes are going to be in the defense," Allison said. "C.J. is so gifted and when you have a physically imposing guy like him, it's going to create holes. And our coaches do a great job finding those holes in the defense."
Allison is excited about what he's been able to provide the Fayetteville offense in the first month of the season, but he's nowhere close to satisfied. And he figures the Bulldogs are still a work in progress before hitting on all cylinders.
Once they do, whether it be O'Grady, Allison or other receiving targets, this new top pass catcher is sure Fayetteville's offensive will be ready to put on a show.
"We haven't played a great game yet," Allison said. "We've had flashes, one good quarter against Northside and a good half against North Little Rock.
"But when we put all the pieces together, I think we'll have a chance to be unstoppable."
Sports on 10/02/2014